Reality BitesReality Bites

(1994) will be screened on August 14 at 6pm at the American Centre, No 44, Galle Road, Colombo 3. (Run-ning Time: 99 min-utes)

A group of close friends awkwardly adjust to adult-hood in this time capsule of a come-dy. They are overeducated and underemployed, too immature to know how to cope with the complexities of their re;ationships, but old enough to know that they must learn. Ben Stiller's film is smart and confident, with a likeable cast and a witty script with Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo and Ben Stiller.

Seating is limited and is first-come, first-served.

L’École pour tousThe movie, L’École

pour tous (2006) by Eric Rochant will be screened on Tuesday, August 14 at 3pm and Wednesday,August 15 at 6.30pm at Alliance Française de Colombo, 11 , B arnes Place,Colombo 7.

Jahwad thirty years, Bac least eight repeti-tions and four to his credit. He is wanted by the police and his fami-ly can not take it. One

day, an unexpected opportunity is offered, that of returning to college. After all, this is the college: there is room, we learn lots of words, the girls are pretty, the comrades are friendly and police absent. Everything would be fine if it was this minor detail: Jahwad took the place of Prof. ...

The movie is for general viewing and is subtitled in English.

Pére NoëlThe movie, Pére

Noël 2010 (1h20) will be screened on August 18 at 3.30 pm at Alli-ance Française de Kandy, 642, Peradeni-ya Road, Kandy.

Santa doesn't want to retire, but rules are rules and he must train someone to replace him. The lucky winner, to be chosen from among millions of chil-dren, must be named Nicholas, be an orphan and have a pure heart. On the other side of the planet, there is a little boy who is a perfect match, but his lack of self-confidence and fear of heights make him a poor contestant.

Will Santa agree to step down, and help his appren-tice take his place?

This week's `Cultural Diary' brings you details about several other fascinating events happening in the city. Take your pick of stage plays, exhibitions or dance performance and add colour to your routine life. You can make merry and enjoy the adventures or sit back, relax and enjoy a movie of your choice. Make a little space to kick into high gear amid the busy work schedules to enjoy the exciting events happening at venues around the city. If there is an event you would like others to know, drop an email to eventcalen-dar25@gmail.com (Please be mindful to send only the essential details). Have a pleasant week.

SaraShi SamaraSiNghe

…

66th independence Day Celebrations of india

Dr. Kanak Rele accompanied by Nalanda troupe

Celebrated Mohiniyattam danseuse of India Dr. Kanak Rele accompanied by the Nal-anda troupe will be perform-ing in Colombo on August 15 at the Lionel Wendt Auditori-

um, No.18 Guildford Crescent Road, Colombo 7 from 6.15 pm onwards as part of the 66th Independence Day Celebrations of India. Minister for Human Recourses, D E W Gunasekera will be the Chief Guest

and High Commissioner of India, Ashok K. Kantha will preside over the function.

The troupe also will be performing at Singapore Hall Hambantota on August 17 and on 19 at Hindu Cultural Hall, Kandy. Dr. Kanak Rele will also deliver a lecture cum demonstration at the University of Visual and Performing Arts.

The troupe will also be performing excerpts from the dance-drama 'The Enlightened One – Gautam Buddha' that highlights the great ‘tapas’ (penance) that prince Siddhartha eventually undertakes to arrive at the Truth (Satta) which is the ultimate salvation for human beings suffer-ing from the great agony that is worldly life.

The dance-drama 'The Enlightened One- Gautam Buddha' will also be a prelude to the exposition of Sacred Kapilvastu Relics in Sri Lanka from August 19 to September 5.

The exposition is being organized in Sri Lanka at the request made by the President of Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister of India to provide an opportunity to the followers of Buddhism in Sri Lanka to pay homage to the Kapilavastu Relics. The schedule of the exposition is as follows:

The troupe’s visit is sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Arts, Gov-ernment of Sri Lanka and the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin.

For invitations for the performances, please contact the Indian Cultural Centre, No.16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo - 7, Tel.No.2684698 or email: iccrcolombo@gmail.com

Dates Province Venue of exposition

August 19, 20 & 21 Western Kapilawasthu hall,Manel Watta Maha Viharaya, Kelaniya

August 22 & 23 Sabaragamuwa Rajamaha Viharaya, Pelmadulla

August 24, 25 & 26 North Central Jayanthi Viharaya, Anuradhapura

August 27 & 28 Eastern Agrabodhi Viharaya, Kantale

August 29 & 30 Central Naranvita Temple, Gampola

August 31 & September 1 North Western Sri Sumangala Pirivena, Wariyapola

September 2, 3 & 4 Southern Matara Bodhiya, Matara

15AUG

Well known drama 'Mahasara,'scrippted and directed by Professor Ediri-weera Sarachchandra will be staged at the John de Silva theatre on August 16

at 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm.'Mahasara' is organized by Priyantha

Ranjan. Vijaya Nandasiri, Sunil Thila-karathne, Sarath Kulanga, Jayanath Bandara, Kumari Manike, Vijitha Vijayarathne, Nimal Jayasinghe and Ganga Paranavithana includes in per-formance and singing. Make up by Upul Mahanama and Stage lighting by Upali Weerasinghe. Stage management by Dhanapala Bogoda. New production of 'Mahasara' is by Lalitha Sarachchandra and choreography is by Ariyarathne Kaluarachchi.

For inquiries please contact Priyan-

tha Ranjan, House of Drama, B2, YMBA building, Colombo - 8. 071 4822890 or 077 6240033

‘Mahasara’ to be staged at John de Silva

16AUG

The Lionel Wendt Theatre will once again play host to Priyantha Sirikumara’s, ’Ber-nadage Sipirigeya’ and two of Rajitha Dissanayake’s most successful plays,‘Weeraya

Merila’ (The Hero is Dead) and ‘Sihina Horu Arang’ (Dreams Robbed) on August 16, 17 and 18 respectively at 7 pm.

The cast for ‘Bernadage Sipirigeya’ includes Kaushalya Fernando, Chandani Senevirathne, Chamila Pieris, Nadie Kammallaweera,Duleeka Marapana, Mal-kanthi Jayasinghe along with Nilmini Buwaneka.

‘Weeraya Merila’ and ‘Sihina Horu Arang’ have won top awards at the Nation-al Drama Festival and ‘Sihina Horu Arang’ has also been staged in India. ‘Weeraya Merila’ has been performed over 100 times since its debut in 2002, and this year marks the tenth year of production. Both plays discuss the socio-political situation in pre-sent day Sri Lanka. While ‘Weeraya Merila’highlights the travails of a journalist struggling to hold onto ideals in a fast-paced media culture adamant to ‘sell’ news, ‘Sihina Horu Arang’ shows the dangerous influence of business and politics in the day-to-day lives of people. Both plays use dialogue as well as music to convey their message to the audience.

As usual a strong cast will be perform-ing. The line-up comprises Priyankara Rat-nayake, Jayani Senanayake, Gihan Fernan-

do, Dharmapriya Dias, Shyam Fer-nando, Dayadewa Edirisinghe, Pras-ad Sooriyarach-chi, Samadhi Lak-siri, Sampath Jayaweera, Gihan de Chickera, Dil-ini Sandeepika and Nalin Luse-na. Music is by Kapila Poogalarachchi, lights by Ranga Samarakoon and Stage Management by Asanka Kodagodageni.

The Festival is Organised By Priyankara De Silva of Sadjana Sahurda Sansadaya (www.sadjana.com)

Bernadage Sipirigeya

Weeraya merila

Sihina horu arang

at the Wendt in

August

16AUG

‘Meeyo Nathuwa Ba’at Punchi theatre

‘ M e e y o Nathuwa Ba’ (Can’t without mice), a hilari-ous drama written and

directed by Keerthi K Rath-nayake will be staged on Sat-urday (August 18) at 3.30 pm and 6.45 pm at the Namel Malini Punchi theatre at Borella.

With a host of renowned artists such as Ravindra Yasas, Madini Malwatte, Sudhar-shana Bandara, Keerthi K Rathnayake, Mahesh Umagiliya, Ishara Wickramasinghe, Sumith Warnakula, Chamari Nisan-sala, Nayana Malithi, Ruvini Dilanthi, Devran Levera, Aruna Sri Kasun and Chanidu Theniya Rathnayake.

Music will be supplied by Pradeep Muthukudaarachchi whilst stage settings will be handled by Roshan Warnaku-lasooriya. Chandana Nishantha and Susantha Kahandawa-laarachchi will manage the stage and costume designing by Suwinitha Perera.

With Wasantha Wittach-chis’ make up and Saman Malalasekaras’ lighting effects ‘Meeyo Nathuwa Ba’ is pre-sented and organized by Jude Srimal. Tickets are available at Namel Malani Punchi theatre. All seats have been box planned.

‘Nirnamika Amatha’ will be launched

Professor Sunan-da Mahendra’s lat-est poetry book, ‘Nirnamika Ama-tha’ will be launched at Dayawansa Jaya-kody bookshop, Colombo 10 on August 14 at 10 am. Professor Sunanda Mahen-dra is the author of ‘Devdath Mavata menavi,’ ‘Dangara Tharappuva,’ ‘Metteiya Thera Vatha,’ Kosol Raja Dutu Budun Vahanse’ and ‘Niralambana.’ ‘Nirnamika Amatha’ is a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.

A n o t h e r Modern Ger-man Youth Theatre pro-duction Lutz H ü b n e r ’ s

‘Creeps’ (Sinhala Edited Version), ‘E Mamai’ direct-ed by M Safeer and transla-tions done by Jayalath S Gomes will stage the public premiere on August 14 and 15 at 4 pm and 7 pm at Goethe hall, German Cul-tural Centre, No.39, Grego-ry’s Road, Colombo 7.

Obscurity, adieu! It’s time to finally get to the place where people can see you: the limelight! This could soon become a dream come true for three young boys , as they have made it to the finalround of casting for potential television hosts of a new show: Creeps - a trendy fashion and music show.

But only one of them can win, though each of them harbors high hopes of achieving would-be fame. Prompted by a faceless off-stage voice, they reveal more and more details of their fragile personal lives-every emotion they show and every tear they shed is commented upon and judged. In this way, they are tested for their media suitability to the point of utter exposure.

How far are people will-ing to go for the little slice of fame that comes with an appearance on television? What motivates young peo-ple to allow themselves to be ridiculed and insulted in front of the camera? Why would someone choose to jump over speeding cars in front of millions of specta-tors?

These are the modern questions that Lutz Hüb-ner’s ‘Creeps’ poses. It inherently make us reflect on the reality of a media that presents us with cheap-ly staged sentimentalism disguised as authenticity and simulates hopes of fame ona daily basis. Hüb-ner shines the spotlight on the victims of our casting show society and illustrates the perversions of a televi-sion world in which the only way to be anybody is to be in the media: I appear

on TV, therefore I am. The cast includes S Dayalan, Thiwanka Ranasingha, Illme Hassim and Shamika Dilhan.

Lighting, set and cos-tumes designed by M Safeer, Stage management by hasindu Randil Abey-wikrama and assisted by Rumesh Tharuka, still pho-tographs by Tilak Perera, video by Naveen Marasing-ha, Weerasingha Jayasunda-ra and Madura Nanayakka-ra, music by Dumindu Kadigamuwa.

‘E Mamai’ is presented by Inter Act Art and Goe-the Institut.

Tickets available at Goe-the-Institut: 011 2694562 0r 0773 129749/011 7201 299. E-mail:interactart.wordpress.com

Web:www.interactart.wordpress.com

Only 100 seats are avail-able per performance

‘E Mamai’ at Goethe hall

14AUG

18AUG

14AUG